Metro News & Reviews

Persuading people to take transit in Slovenia

Very funny video from Ljubljana, Slovenia, that is intended to persuade folks to give up driving and instead take transit. In this case, they offer up a timeless reward for those who ride buses, trains and bikes.

While the video does make a good use of humor to reward those taking public transit, it’s actually the norm in the Asian cities that I’ve visited. Rewards, or more like incentives, are given to those who use payment methods that saves public transit costs overall.

I’d be sending pictures shortly on how Seoul’s T-Money Card, Singapore’s EZ-Transit Card, and Hong Kong’s Octopus Cards all provide incentives like cheaper discounted fares and even frequent rider points that can be used for goods at convenience stores to their transit riders. Such incentives are a great way LA Metro can learn to persuade more riders to switch to TAP.

The use of humor is great. It does show that using public transit gives people a chance to interact with others. In the car culture, the drive is isolated from others and this disconnect is a contributing factor to road rage. It is easier to cut off an anonymous person in a car, than that same person waiting in line at the supermarket. The chance meeting and interactions on public transit are great.

When in New York earlier this year (I drove into the city, but then parked the car until I left, $40 parking), I road the subway. Even being in a packed rush hour train, everyone was much nicer and more connected than driving. Didn’t feel the stress like I would have driving. Didn’t have to circle around looking for parking. I was seeing a ‘one woman’ play. After the play I was talking to the star (a minor celeb.) and we wound up being headed in the same direction. So, we walked off to the subway and sat and talked some more as we rode. You can’t do that if you are driving! It was a delightful experience.

Haha when I was in NY i was headed out to Brooklyn because that’s where my friends Car was and boarded a F train during peak, half the carriage was empty, i looked to my right and there sits some homeless person smelling of urine and the urine trail heading on the floor toward me. Yes NY, it was a delightful experience. Needless to say my friend dropped me back in Manhattan in his car, it was much quicker to, 15 minutes compared to 48min on metro.